Electric Coil-Top or Smoothtop Range?

[Jodi1980]

According to Consumer Reports: Electric smoothtops are pretty easy to clean, but they require a special cleaner. They can be damaged by a dropped pot or sugary liquids. Coil-tops aren’t as susceptible to such harm, but they require more cleaning time.

Any suggestions on which I should purchase??

 

[Maleficent13]

I have a smooth top and I love it. It is so easy to clean, even with the special cleanser, and takes no time. I've never dropped a pot on it, so can't answer to that, but I splatter everything all the time and have never had an issue with anything damaging it. I've had it 5 years and it still looks brand new.

 

[CLynnJones]

I love my smooth top too. It's a lot easier to clean IMHO.

 

[Chicago526]

I'm always cooking with gas, baby!

My mom had a smooth top one once when we were little. She said it aways made her nervous because as todlers, we couldn't see the top of the stove and might put our hands up to touch and not realize it was on. With gas or electric, we'd be able to see the flame or red hot glow. So if you have little ones, it's something to consider.

Oddly enough, she has a smooth top one now that she and Dad are retired. It took some getting used to (she had a gas stove for 20 years straight) but now she likes it fine. Not sure about the cleaning solution though.

 

[stinkerbelle]

smooth top.
no drip pans to clean!

the "special cleaner" is sold at sears (buy this brand - do NOT buy the one at the grocery store...too gritty IMO). It's in a black and white bottle. One $12 bottle will last you at LEAST 6-8 months. so don't let that deter you.

I love my smooth top...i'm on my second...it takes a while to get used to though...my MIL got one and she's still a little unsure of it.

 

[mickeyboat]

Smooth top for me too. I hate those drip pans!

My burners turn red when they are on. There is also a red dot on the surface of the stove to tell me which burners are hot.

Denae

 

[Annette_VA]

I've got a smooth top & I'd never go back to coils.

The Ceramabrite cleaner isn't that all that expensive - a bottle lasts forever.

Yeah, if you drop a heavy pot on the smooth top it might break, but that won't shy me away from owning one.

Plus w/ smooth tops you get the options of a 5th burner/warmer and variable "eyes"

 

[sha_lyn]

The glass tops scare me. My grandmother had one blow up on her. I've also read you can't use cast iron cookware on them.

I love gas.

 

[ValerieK]

Originally posted by stinkerbelle
smooth top.
no drip pans to clean!

the "special cleaner" is sold at sears (buy this brand - do NOT buy the one at the grocery store...too gritty IMO). It's in a black and white bottle. One $12 bottle will last you at LEAST 6-8 months. so don't let that deter you.

I can't have gas cooking, so I have a smoothtop cooktop. I love it. Use the Sears cleaner. It does the best job.

 

[thatchicktrish]

my DH works for an appliance parts supply company, he orders replacement parts for consumers and technicians to fix broken appliances. That being said...he has adamantly gone against us getting a smooth (glasstop) cooktop because the replacement cost is ridiculous. Just my 2 pennies.

 

[aimee11621]

Once you go smoothtop you will never go back!!!!

It's relatively easy to clean. Pots stay level.

I love my stove !

 

[mbw12]

I love my Smooth top!!!!

 

[Blondie]

There was a smooth top range in our condo at Villa Capriani, and I loved it!

 

[helenabear]

I'm a klutz with heavy pans... I just bought a new one this year and after being told the cost of replacing the top... I am still on coils.

How I long to be on a gas range again....

 

[wld]

Another smooth top lover here. As my brother said when he talked me into it "when something boils over I just smile" Mine glows red when it is heating and there is a light that tells which is hot.

 

[minniecarousel]

I really liked my smoothtop when I had it. You do want to use flat bottomed pans (I had one cheap aluminum pot that was pretty crinkly - so it gave me the opportunuity to throw it out.) I have gas now and really like cooking with it!

 

[Lynn CC]

I've had both, I have a smooth top now that I have to scrape with a razor blade then use the cleaner provided (the cleaner lasts a long time, you only use very little).
I was always purchasing those replacement bowls for the coils because no matter how many times I cleaned them they were never shiny enough. I actually had one set for in between cooking that I'd switch back after I cleaned up the kitchen. This way I'd never be caught with dirty or soiled looking catchers(whatever you call them).

 

[nativetxn]

I have had both electric and gas stoves and I prefer my gas range. I seem to be able to control the heat better.

My sister has a flat top range and hates it.

 

[DVC-Don]

Smoothtop. We just got one in June and love it. So easy to clean.

 

[Regina]

I love my smoothtop. I buy the special cleaner for it in the supermarket. It's "Cooktop Magic" $4.99 for 16 ounces. As others have said, it lasts a long time. I often find that a spritz of Windex is all that's needed.

I would never go back to coils. One spillover and those darned trays are ruined.